In the first 3 months of raising a child who is deaf, I’ve heard my fair share of unsolicited parenting advice, and although well-meaning, the comments can be both ignorant and hurtful. There have been times when I have had to practice self-control and kindness because I’m tempted to lash out at times.

Some comments come from complete strangers, while others come from family and friends. Instead of saying anything I’d probably later regret, I use it as an educational tool to educate and take initiative to learn more about the deaf community and how to communicate it back to those around me.

I have found, and accepted, that most of the hurtful comments tend to come from family or close friends. Although I do wholeheartedly believe people mean well and are not trying to be hurtful, it begins to feel demoralizing and overwhelming. It becomes this way because we’re still navigating through this very new-to-us season, so we naturally do not have all of the answers. We’re still learning ourselves.

Here are some of the things myself, and I’m sure I can speak for others who have a child with a hearing disability, do not want to hear:

“God gives special children to special parents” That’s a nice thing to say, but lets remember that we are ordinary people. Doing whatever is necessary to help our child is not what “special” people do, it’s what we do as parents.

“I’m sorry” This is said with good intentions, but it suggests that the disability is bad. We didn’t get the “short end of the stick” or “less of a child”. Our child is a child first and foremost and their disability doesn’t and will not ever define them. Our son is loved beyond measure, and we will celebrate him regardless of his hearing disability.

“But he looks normal!” Some disabilities are invisible, and when a parent hears this comment is suggests to them that the doctor who diagnosed their child with a certain disability is incompetent and misdiagnosed them.

“He’ll grow out of it” Trust me, that is certainly what we’re praying for but after 6 failed hearing tests, we’re being realistic. It’s hurtful to hear this, and we’ve accepted that this might be permanent. Our son might never regain his hearing, but there are medical devices that potentially can help him hear, so we have that hope.

“Have you tried____”or “You should/shouldn’t do _____” We have done all that we can do at this point. He’s had an MRI, met with an ENT specialist, we’ve tried chiropractic, had several hearing tests and recently got a second opinion from Mott’s Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor. He has been fitted for hearing aids, though they may not work at all, we’re still trying. We are being as proactive as possible. We’ve had people tell us not to do something and then we’ve had people tell us to do this or that, but I think it’s important to understand that we’re looking into everything and considering our options. We don’t have all of the answers, but rest assured, we’re doing our research every step of the way.

“I don’t know how you do it!” I love my child, so we do what we have to do, no questions asked. My son is not unlovable and the fact that he is deaf doesn’t change a thing.

“It could be worse!” Just because someone has more challenges doesn’t mean ours are not valid. Raising a deaf child is terrifying, and I’m so worried about failing. Our son was sick when he was born and his hearing may have been destroyed due to medication. We know that without the medication, our son might not be here, but he is deaf now because of it. It sucks. Period. So, yes, we know it could be worse, but this fact doesn’t make it easier.

“Didn’t you know before birth?” How could we have known? Of course we didn’t know, but it wouldn’t have changed a thing had we known he was deaf. He wasn’t born deaf, and our son was in NICU and on some pretty strong medication that we’re being told might have taken away his hearing. Refraining from asking this question, especially because it’s hard to truly know what he went through unless you’re family or a close family friend, would be advised.

“God only gives us what we can handle” Although I agree with this, it still is a tough pill to swallow. We dealt with years of infertility before we had our children, we had a miscarriage, then our youngest son was born and was almost immediately put into NICU with a pneumonia. Following his stay in NICU, he lost his hearing. We’ve been through a lot as a family, and although we’re “handling” it, it doesn’t make it any easier.

“How do you feel about it?” Of course I’m terrified and fearful of what’s to come. I’m sad. I’m angry, and I feel horrible for my little boy, but I have to be strong. I’m going to do whatever I can to give my son as much of a normal life as possible without hesitation.

What comments or questions have you heard or been asked that have been hurtful? How do you handle them?

As moms, we typically put ourselves last. Our family comes before us, and we just don’t take care of our own bodies like we should. Too much effort and too much money is typically involved. You browse the internet looking for the best in natural and organic skincare products for your children, but when it comes to yourself, you grab whatever is on sale without keeping in mind how good or bad the product is for your body. Enough is enough. We all should be treating ourselves to the same natural and organic products we demand for our children. When conducting research, I discovered Promise Organic products.

With the increasing demand for natural and organic products on the rise within the global organic cosmetics markets, Promise Organic delivers what consumers want. These revolutionary products are are formulated with the highest level of purity, safety and efficacy consumers demand. When reading labels, we discover the “hidden” ingredients that aren’t spoken about. Consumers see “natural” and “organic” and assume that the product is just that, natural and organic. Upon closer examination at these products, we discover that these products contain potentially harmful and toxic ingredients that should not be being used on ourselves or our children. In fact, the more research I personally did, the more terrifying facts I unearthed. Did you know that more than 1,400 harmful ingredients in personal care products are banned in other countries, but not here in the U.S? As a parent, this is unsettling.

With Promise Organic products, I was delighted to see that the strict NSF criteria for organic products and have replaced any potentially harmful ingredients with plant-derived alternatives that smell and feel great. Their baby products contain rich coconut butter, which is a custom blend of organic coconut oil and Fair Trade Certified Organic Shea Butter, which allows me, as a mother of two, to feel good about what I’m using on my children. On top of that, Promise Organic vows to maintain their promise to help protect the Earth’s natural resources and beauty without the cruelty to animals. Their promise is simple: no parabens, harsh sulfates, silicones, artificial colorants or synthetic fragrances.

Promise Organic is affordable, making my decision to switch from the old products I used an easy one. I recently started using their baby skincare collection, as well as other products from their skincare line, and I have rave reviews for each item.

Not only are the price points of these items fantastic, but the soothing oatmeal and rich coconut butter hydrates and nourish’s my boys skin. Plus, they’re hypoallergenic. My 7 week old son recently developed a skin irritation and after a few days using the Replenishing Coconut Butter Baby Lotion it started to go away. The lotion smells great and doesn’t leave the greasy residue that other products tend to leave behind. The body wash is just as amazing, and both products give off the “new baby” smell which is nostalgic as your children grow.

Gentle Coconut Butter Diaper Rash Cream with Oatmeal ($9.99)

I’ve used other brands of diaper rash cream before and this one definitely takes the cake! Promise Organic’s diaper rash cream creates a protective barrier on baby’s skin to help soothe the diaper rash and soften the skin. The non-nano zinc oxide helps reduce and prevent redness associated with diaper rash and helps to minimize inflammation around the irritated area. The organic neem oil protects skin from other possibly harmful bacterial. I love that this cream actually rubs in quickly and doesn’t leave a white residue on top of my child’s skin.

SPF 30 Sunscreen Baby Lotion ($12.99)

Melanoma Cancer is something that runs in my family, so when it comes to protecting my skin, as well as my family’s skin, we don’t settle. I have searched high and low for a product that is not only natural and organic but something that won’t break the bank. Promise Organic‘s sunscreen is safe, effective and free from other potentially harmful ingredients making it a shoe-in for my family. The revolutionary formula contains NSF-certified Shea Butter including a blend of coconut oil, sunflower oil, olive oil, jojoba oil and other plant extracts, that each melt at different points when subjected to sun exposure. This means that your child’s skin is protected, nourished and hydrated continuously. It’s recommended to apply 15 minutes before sun exposure and reapply every two hours or 80 minutes after skin has become wet.

Promise Organic‘s baby skincare collection has been a game-changer in my household, so I decided to look into their skincare collection for myself. Why shouldn’t I subject my skin to the same natural and organic products I’m using on my children? I have used their hand cream, facial scrub, body lotion and sunscreen.

I have naturally dry skin, so when it comes to finding the ideal body lotion, I need something that will moisturize my skin without adding the thick, sludgy residue other lotions leave behind.The combination of argan oil and shea butter leaves my skin feeling soft and moisturized. The formula is clinically proven to improve the skin’s elasticity. Who doesn’t want a product that improves skin’s elasticity that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg? Did I mention how amazing it smells?

My husband suffers from severe dry hands, which means he is always on the lookout for moisturizer that works fast without leaving that overall greasy feeling. When he started using the Coconut Milk Hand Cream with Shea Butter, he was pleasantly surprised on how his hands felt. They were smoother, less cracked and left his hands feeling moisturized.

Who doesn’t love their face feeling clean? I have searched high and low for the right facial scrub, and up until I tried the Coconut Milk Facial Scrub by Promise Organic, I was striking out. This moisturizer not only smells great, but it leaves my face feeling smooth and clean. It exfoliates my skin leaving it smelling like sugar and walnut, and what’s even more fantastic about this particular facial scrub is that it’s ideal for sensitive skin! Plus, the micro-beads designed to help exfoliate my skin are not abrasive unlike others I have tried in the past, so it doesn’t feel as though I’m tearing up my skin when cleaning it.

Again, if you’re seeking a product that is a natural formula that is free from all synthetic and harmful ingredients, then Promise Organic’s sunscreen is for you. Similar to the baby blend lotion, it’s a creamy formula combining Zinc Oxide, shea butter and a blend of essential oil, and it’s safe for all skin tones. It’s recommended to apply 15 minutes before sun exposure and one should reapply every 80 minutes. Unlike other sunscreens I’ve used in the past, it doesn’t leave that greasy feeling or takes several minutes to rub into the skin. It leaves skin protected and smelling great!

With Spring finally here, having something refreshing and healthy to drink is a must! This creamy iced Matcha Green Tea Latte lightly sweetened with vanilla almond milk and a hint of vanilla extract makes this a healthier version of deliciousness.

There are so many reasons to incorporate this mega superfood into your daily health routine.

Here are TEN amazing benefits of MATCHA:

high in antioxidants

increases energy level

enhances mood

improves skin

boosts immune system

lowers cholesterol

stimulates metabolism

detoxifies

boosts memory and concentration

helps prevent cancer

This Matcha recipe is made with vanilla almond milk, raspberry match (Spice Merchant’s also carry regular Matcha and peach Matcha), a drizzle of honey and just a splash of vanilla extract. Choose from Tahitian, Madagascar and Mexican vanilla extract available for purchase in our store or online.

One thing I recommend is to make sure that you completely blend the Matcha to prevent clumps in your latte. You won’t need a blender to mix the ingredients, but we do recommend picking up a Matcha whisk and bowl to make blending and mixing easier. Spice Merchants also sell these products for your convenience.

Matcha green tea is both refreshing and energizing. It acts as an anti-inflammatory, it’s incredibly high in antioxidants, boosts metabolism and boosts memory concentration.

With the right ingredients, you can recreate a recipe that will take you to an exotic island in the Mediterranean. Enjoy the robust flavors of the Mediterranean with this perfect recipe full of flavor.

So, your child has head lice. Now what? First things, first, don’t panic!

Fortunately, even though lice can spread, they carry no diseases which means that you and your child are not in danger, health-wise. It’s also important to remember that just because your child gets lice, it does not mean that your child is unclean.

It’s just their luck that they got it from another child who had it. If your child is in daycare, like mine, they’re more likely to get it.

There are home treatments you can use to get ride of the lice and there are treatments you can purchase from the store. A few things you will definitely need regardless of treatment options are gloves, shower caps, and a lice comb.

Nearly all treatment options focus on a smothering method.

Suffocating Agents:

There are suffocating agents that specialize in suffocating the lice. Such agents include vaseline, mayo and olive oil. Although they are effective in getting rid of live lice, it’s important to understand that they do not get rid of nits. Nits are the lice’s eggs.It’s also very messy and hard to get out of hair.

Chemical Agents:

I’m a freak about cleanliness, so I bought over-the-counter shampoo. My husband and I were going to treat our hair as well. I grabbed RID and Meijer brand shampoos to treat our hair. I also bought child-friendly shampoo for my son. On top of using the suffocating agent and chemical agent on my son, I bought Lice Shield to help repel head lice. This shampoo is made with natural essential oils and smells really good. It took a few weeks for our daycare center to get rid of the lice, which is normal once it spreads, so we used this shampoo for a few weeks following the initial outbreak.

Make sure that you follow the instructions when treating your child. I found that by putting a show cap on my child’s head and letting him play in the bath, it distracted him long enough to let the agent stay for the time it needed to effectively treat the lice.

He hated the cap at first, but his toys soon distracted him.

Removing the Nits

This was the most challenging part for me, as I had a hard time identifying the difference between dry skin and Nits. Nits do not fall off the head following treatment, so they must be removed. Nits can be described as tear drop in shape and are typically found on the nap of the neck, around the ears or crown of the head. Here are instructions on removing Nits.

Bedding or stuffed animals that cannot be washed should be place in a plastic bag for two weeks in order to suffocate the lice

Vacuum entire house and couches if possible

Spray lice spray onto couches, your child’s car-seat(s) and other larger items unable to be washed in a washer

Clean combs and brushes by soaking them in medicated shampoo for 10 minutes or by soaking them in water that is at least 130 degrees for 10 minutes

Cleaning should start immediately once head lice is discovered and subsequently whenever live lice is found on the head during daily inspections.

Follow-up and Prevention

We continued using Lice Shield for a few weeks following the initial outbreak. We also put tea tree oil in his hair daily. Rumor has it, lice hate hair that has product or oils in it. So, style up that hair!

Make sure to check our child’s head for lice on a regular basis for several weeks following the initial outbreak. Check it periodically throughout the year as well.

Many people called me crazy when I told them I had registered for the Kalamazoo Borgess 1/2 Marathon. I was never a runner, but I was determined to accomplish this goal finally. I started training on March 18th, and continued with a structured work out plan to help prepare me for this challenge. My training consisted of running 3-4 times a week as well as cross-training 1-2 a week. I started training by myself for the first few weeks, but wasn’t happy with my time. I partnered up with my long-time friend, Jen, who pushed me and challenged me throughout the training. Without her, I wouldn’t have been as well prepared for the run. As I was running, I took mental note of the things I was either thinking and/or saying throughout my 13.1 miles of running. Enjoy. 🙂

Damn, 4:30 am is really early.

Am I really doing this?

Better take a picture before I start running

Please don’t have to pee..or poop.

It’s cold, I don’t want to take off my cover

There is a lot of competition here

I should be able to beat that girl (hopefully)

It’s crowded..my personal bubble has been invaded

Hey, I got a shout out..now everyone knows that this is my first 1/2. Better not disappoint..or DIE

And we’re lining up

Look, we are being herded like cattle towards the start line

Did that guy just bump me and not say sorry?

And they’re singing the national anthem

Where is the flag? Oh there it is.

We are counting down. Shits about to get real

And we’re off, sort off

Stop walking, run!

Must get to outside lane

That’s better

Just running down Gull Lake at 8 am for fun.

That was a mile? Hey, maybe I can do this

This guy just told me he has never done a 10k or half marathon but now he is running the full? AND he has only trained 4 weeks? WTF

Wait where is mile 2? Maybe I can’t do this

Did that guy just take a selfie mid-run?

He sure did, I should have photo bombed him

These pants are a little loose. I should have bought a medium

Down the hill we go, I love hills

Awe look at those people cheering us on

That guy is not cheering us on

Yay headed downtown

Passing beer is never easy

Oh look Gazelles, I’ll be seeing you next week for some new kicks

“Chuck Norris never ran a 1/2”, clever sign. A+ for creativity

Did I just slow down or did Jen? Definitely not Jen. Run harder before she yells at you

Oh a tunnel

Smells like a marsh

Wonder if a homeless person lives under here

Gummy bears?

I need that water

Is this bridge moving or am I losing it?

It’s the bridge, thank goodness

My legs hurt, don’t tell Jen

Hey Mr. Mohney!

Why am I doing this again?

That lady likes to run marathons in the Colorado mountains? She must be nuts!

Jason and Braxton are probably both still sleeping

I wish I was sleeping

Crap, mile 8 means we are going to be running up that hill

This hill sucks

Jen, grab my hand…

Popsicle’s..

Jen just ran and jumped into a hug with someone else. How is she even able to jump after that hill?

Only a 5k left? I want to die.

Worst idea ever.

She is yelling at me again…..

Keep your mouth shut.

You’d only speak out of hunger, the fact that you’re sore and/or tired

Don’t think about.

Stay quiet.

That was harder than I thought.

Oh look, another hill

It’s not that much smaller

Almost there? If I can’t see the finish line, we aren’t even close!

There are a lot of people along Gull Road.

They look so happy for us.

I know I look pissed

Try to smile

That’s not a smile, that’s a grin

Just around the corner?

Where is the dang finish line?

There it is.

Run faster? Are you mad?

Dang it, there Jen goes.

.I’m running faster.

Ahhhhhhhh

YAY! We’re done.

Am I still running?

I’m walking side-ways

Where is some chocolate milk?

Oh hey Matt and LeAnne

Holy crap that was hard

Soooooo glad I did it

My legs are killing me

And I’m walking side-ways still

Why did I do that again? I’m not going to be able to walk later, or tomorrow or the next day…

I’m ALIVE.

I’m sure that there were many more thoughts that crossed my mind in the 13.1 miles that I ran during the 1/2 Marathon, but those are some of the thoughts that stuck out. I tried to take a mental note of some of the bizarre things I was thinking and or saying to others. I’m happy to have completed my first 1/2 marathon, and although it was very challenging for me, I’m happy to have experienced it. The friends and family along the course cheering on their loved ones was amazing. Some of the signs were pretty great too and warranted several chuckles along the way. I’m lucky to have had Jen there to help push me and help me finish the race, and although I was just shy of my goal, I can’t be that disappointed in my results.

Congratulations to all those who participated in the event. It was great!

At some point in all of our lives we will all experience being too busy. We have a lot going on and you just cannot catch your breath. We are given deadlines, goals and due dates at our jobs. This is only followed by going from working employee to working mom. Sometime in between your work schedule, you need to take the kids to sporting events, school functions and doctors appointments. On top of playing mom, you also want to hit up the grocery store, get in a quick work-out as well as running other miscellaneous errands as well as doing housework. Where oh where do you find the time to get it all done?

We are quite literally being pulled in several different directions each and every day. It never truly gets easier, you just build a routine–rather what resembles a routine. When things go wrong and things don’t get done, the world is screaming for your attention, but the real problem is that you don’t have time to complete everything day in and day out.Some days all you want is to pee in peace, eat when your food is still warm, take a bath, relax and actually get some sleep without worrying about responsibilities and the things yet to get done for the day. Is that too much to ask? As adults, we are constantly neglecting our own needs.

Here are some small ways to take care of yourself when you haven’t got much time or energy.

Say ‘No’ unless it’s important to you. You do not need to say yes to every project and task presented to you. Say ‘no’ when you want too, and don’t feel guilty about your decision.

Ask others to lend a helping hand when you feel as though things won’t get done. Regardless of what you think, you cannot do everything. You just can’t, so don’t try to.

Get some sleep. Go to bed at a decent time and don’t feel the need to wake up early every day. Sleep in. *If you’re a parent, this is much easier said than done.Don’t be afraid to take a nap then!

Eat healthy. You will honestly feel better when you eat healthy. The more junk food you eat, the sicker you feel.

Hit up the gym or go for a long run/walk. Working out helps alleviate stress. Whether you squeeze in a workout at lunch or prefer to work-out before or after work, just make sure you get it done.

Make a “to-do” list each and every day. Making a “to-do” list helps keep your organized and on schedule. Utilize your email and phone calender as much as possible.

Don’t lose touch with your friends. Make time for them. Even if you can’t see your friends like you used too, it’s still important that you let them know you’re thinking about them. Maybe plan a girls/guys night once a month just to catch up.

Make time to relax. Put it on a schedule. Make sure you’re setting time aside every day to relax. Whether relaxation means reading a favorite book, taking a bath or going for a walk–make sure you treat yourself to it daily.

Spend your lunchtime doing something for yourself. You don’t always have to have a working lunch. Run an errand on your lunch break, run home and see your family, read a book or hit the gym. Either way, you’re given a lunch break for a reason. Use it to your advantage.

Keep a journal. Write down things that happen in your life. Write down the good, the bad and the ugly and reflect on it later.

Take a hot bubble bath including a glass of wine and a good book. Once the kids are in bed, it’s time for a nice hot bubble bath to wash the layers of responsibilities and the days events off your tired body.

Write down something that you are grateful for every day. Before you even start your day, write down ONE thing that you’re grateful for.

Slow down and breath. You don’t always have to be on the go. Slow down. Take things a little slower from time to time and catch your breath.

Laugh a lot. Laughter fixes nearly everything. Make sure you surround yourself with people who will make you laugh.

Keep a tidy office. Your day will go so much smoother if your office is organized and it doesn’t take you an hour to find something within the piles of paper on your desk.

Take “copious” notes (Thanks Mr. Hoff, H.S. Honors English Teacher) Take notes during every meeting, that way you don’t miss something important and it keeps you in the “know.”

Accept that a little clutter and messes exist from time to time. Your office and home will never be spotless. There will be clutter and messes, and it’s okay to accept that. If you have kids, you already know this to be true.

Learn your limits. Once you have pushed yourself to your breaking point, you then will learn and know your limits. Don’t continue to push yourself to the breaking point.

Take the entire weekends off. If at all possible, take the weekend off. Don’t bring work home with you. Spend the weekend with your family and friends. You put in enough work hours during the week.

Don’t hide your emotions. If you’re mad or upset, confide in your spouse or relative. Keeping your emotions inside can result in a break-down further down the road due to a build up of emotions.

Have a support group. Your support group could be family members or friends, your work or church family and/or your spouse. This can be a group you confide in and share with them your life.

Delegate and outsource tasks and projects. When you have too much on your plate, don’t be afraid to delegate tasks to others. More than likely there is someone near you that can help you get a task or project done equally if not better than you could have.

Get Outdoors. Enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. When it’s warm and the sun is out, hit up the beach. Being outdoors can greatly improve one’s mood.

It’s okay NOT to be productive 100% every day. As long as you’re getting the job down, don’t stress about being productive every second of every day. Make sure you mingle with your co-workers and get to know them. You don’t have to sit behind a desk and be a slave of the phone and computer.

Take vitamins. Because who wouldn’t take vitamins? They’re just plain down good for you!

Meditate in the morning or evening. Taking time to just think about the days events and really let everything sink in is important for being at peace before the day has started or after the day as ended.

Limit your media consumption every day. The media is so negative, and oftentimes the news only relays the negative things going on in the world. Put down the remote and pick up a book.

Reward yourself. Every once in a while it’s okay to reward yourself for something. You work so hard, so why shouldn’t you treat yourself to a new outfit or tool for the tool box?

Accept and love yourself for who you are daily. You are a beautiful person. Accept everything about yourself and love yourself unconditionally. You need to take care of yourself. Don’t forget how much you do for so many people. Doing something nice for yourself daily is rightfully earned.

I have only been competitively running for a year, so I won’t sit here and act like I know everything there is to know about running, because I don’t. I do, however, have a ton of running friends who have filled my head with running knowledge. I ran 5ks here and there, but didn’t get serious about distance and time until a month after I had my son in April of 2014. As I train for my first half marathon, which is coming up on May 3rd, I’ve learned a lot about myself and running. Here are some tips I have learned through my training thus far in my 6 weeks of training.

1) Find a Plan: I did a lot of research and asked my running friends how to plan out a half marathon training schedule. I’m used to running 3-4 miles normally, but anything over that I was just not prepared for. I finally created a running schedule that would help me train in the 8 weeks leading up to the half marathon. For those who don’t run at all and are very new to running, there are several plans geared for you. One example is called ‘Couch to Half Marathon’ which recommends 14 weeks for training. I recommend finding a plan that allows you enough time to train comfortably.

Here is the link for 14 weeks:http://womensrunning.competitor.com/2013/09/training-tips/couch-to-half-marathon-training-plan_15065

Here is my training schedule which includes 1 day off and 2 days of croos-training.

2) Give yourself adequate time to Train: Don’t rush into your training. I suggest 8-10 weeks of training because I feel like anything less can result in injury. If you start running immediately aiming at higher mileage it can lead to injury and people tend to drop off from training because it’s too hard. Gradual is key. Start small and work your way up, but not too quickly. If you train too hard, you might learn to despise running instead of enjoying it.

3) Find the right shoes: This is important because finding the right shoe can help minimize injury and strain on your body. My recommendation would be to go to Gazelle’s, which is located in downtown Kalamazoo, and be fitted for shoes. They will actually watch you run and help determine the right shoe for your foot based on shape, functionality you’re looking for as well as ensuring the shoes will be comfortable on your feet. I’m obsessed with the Nike Frees that I have currently, but unfortunately they will need to be retired after my next race.

4) Find a Running Partner: When I first started training for the 1/2 marathon, I was training by myself. As my mileage went up, I decided to pair up with some friends (particularly Jen Davis & Christy Seitz) who have ran marathons and 1/2 marathons before. I did this because they have been great at motivating and pushing me to run faster and farther. They have also given me advice on how to improve. I joined a Facebook group called Sole2Soul, who hosts challenges of 50-100 Miles a month all for a purpose. This month we’re running for autism awareness. This is a great group to join each month because we are all motivating each other and running for great causes. We participate in events together, we have fun, and we run united to make positive changes. What’s not to LOVE about that? This is from their website: “Sole2Soul was founded on the premise of moving miles happily for a purpose. S2S is here to motivate you to stay healthy by moving miles for a charity each month and having fun on your journey! Meet new people, get support and most of all help a Soul with your Sole!”

Lesa Newby is the founder of Sole2Soul. Check out her website here: http://www.runs2s.com/.

I encourage you to get involved with this program!!

5) Pace yourself: Don’t get down on yourself if you’re longer runs are slower-that’s ok! If you overdo it and push yourself before you’re ready, you’re risking sustaining an injury. Keep in mind that when you’re actually racing, you tend to run faster because everyone around you is running. Every time I run a race, I always run faster. I used to be surprised but now I realize it’s the competitive nature in me that pushes me harder in races.

6) Allow recovery time: The higher the distances and quicker the times, the more your body will feel it.It’s important to allow your body to recover by taking a day off from time to time and taking ice baths if necessary. I’m not a fan of ice baths (because I hate the cold), but I’ve heard lying in a tub filled half way with cold water and then letting hot water pour down on you helps alleviate muscle cramps and pain. Allow your body to heal. Don’t overdo it.

7) Stay Hydrated: Some people don’t like to carry water bottles with them while they run, and that’s fine, but it’s important to stay hydrated especially during long runs. During races, there are usually water stations every few miles, so slowing down to grab a quick drink is important. It’s also very important to drink 6-8 eight oounce glasses of water a day! This is a daily struggle for me, because I don’t really like water. I must have flavoring in my water just to ensure that I’m drinking enough. I know, go ahead and judge me. 🙂

I plan on running with a water bottle something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Nike-Water-Bottle-Vapor-Crimson/dp/B00IG71J6S/ref=sr_1_21?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1429036819&sr=1-21&keywords=hand+water+bottle+for+running

8) Change your Diet: It’s important to ensure that you are eating enough food. I’m burning on average 1,500-2,300 calories daily, so ensuring that I’m making up some of those calories in food is important to ensure I’m supplying my body with adequate vitamins and nutrition in order to maintain my health. I went through a time period in which I kept gaining weight even though I was burning all of these calories, and I couldn’t figure out why I wasn’t losing weight. I figured out that because I wasn’t eating enough calories, my body was storing all of the food I was eating which was being completely counter productive. The healthier you eat, the stronger and leaner you will become, and I think you’ll be shocked how much better you feel before, during and after your runs.

9) Cross-Train: When you’re training for a long-distance run, make sure that you’re cross-training as well. Don’t run every single day. Add in weights and other light cardio workouts to mix things up. Building up other muscle groups can also help minimize the chances of sustaining an injury during a long run. Don’t think that you only have to run. You will wear yourself out if all you do is run. Mix it up!

10) Have Fun: Don’t forget to have fun. Since I started competitively running, I have made some great friends and some amazing memories. Participate in as many races and runs that you can. Get in on the fun ones like the Color Run or Mud Run. Don’t run just to run all of the time. Run to have fun!

I know I’m not the only working mom out there that is constantly trying to determine a balance between one’s lifestyle and work. I travel a few times a month for work, and because my husband is on second shift, this creates some headaches as I have to find people to help care for our son while I’m gone. The end of this month will be particularly difficult as I’m headed to New York for 2 nights, 3 days. I will have to ask some family to help get him home from daycare and care for him until Jason gets home. It’s not easy being away from my son or husband for that amount of time, but since it’s a requirement of my job, there isn’t room for protest.

Sometimes I think about how it would feel to be a stay-at-home mom. I could be with my son all day every day. I could teach him so many things and create memories that I may not be able to create because of my busy work schedule. But then I think how important it is for him to attend daycare and interact with other kids his age. I like that he is learning things daily, so to pull him out of that would be selfish. Plus, I’ve always worked. I delivered shopper papers before the age of 10 and had a job at the age of 15, so I’ve been working for a long time. I’m not sure I could stop working after all of these years.

On the flip side of that, I have an unsettling amount of guilt leaving my son for days at a time. I feel burdensome to my family members and husband who have to care for my son when I travel or attend after work events. I want to be that mother who is there for her son each and every day. I want to be the mother who doesn’t miss things when I’m away from him. I missed his first laugh, and I don’t want to miss anything more.

What’s the balance? Where does it start and where does it end? That’s the question. I’m a first time mom, so I haven’t figured out that balance yet, that line between work and life balance. Will it ever really be established? Things are constantly changing, so the likelihood of there being any amount consistency is slim, but I’m sure that IF and WHEN Jason gets onto first shift, that’ll certainly help the cause. I’ll pray for that to happen sooner rather than later.

Until then, I’ll keep on doing my thing the best that I possibly can. I’ll continue teaching my son and giving him my attention and love. And even though, Jason and I don’t see each other that much, it is my goal to balance work-life to the best of my ability while being a successful business professional, caring wife and doting mother.

Sooooo, many people may not realize this, but I gained 35 lbs when I was pregnant with my son. YES. 35 pounds! I worked out and ate right the entire pregnancy, so to a gain that much weight was terrifying. I have always had fluctuating weight, but since 2011 I have continued to lose weight and really get into shape. I don’t think many people realize how hard it is to lose baby weight especially if you are not able to breast feed long which is where a lot of calories are burned which obviously helps with additional weight loss. I work a full-time job, traveling occasionally, as well as working opposite shifts from my husband so as you can imagine finding time to work out and eat right can be tricky. I tend to work out either in the early morning before work or on my lunch break at work. It’s taken me TEN months, but I can finally say that I am back down to my pre-baby weight. How did I do this? Diet and exercise! I watch what I eat. I also monitor my portions to ensure that I’m not over-eating. I also put in a few miles a week along with core and weight lifting.

It’s amazing because even when I was pregnant, I was still in the best shape of my life. I was eating healthy, and I was working out 3-4 times a week. In fact, the night my water broke I ran two miles and lifted weights. I ran my first race a month after giving birth and had two PR’s this year for my 5k and 10k. It’s amazing what hard work can do!

To all those other ladies out there struggling to lose that baby weight, don’t give up! It took me 10 months. It may take less or more for others, but the most important thing to remember is that everyone’s body type is different. Don’t give up.